Mail-bag



(No Model.)

LA FAYETTE CREPS.

MAIL BAG.

VMtented July l, 1890).

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.l

LA FAYETTE CREPS, OF SHERIDAN LAKE, COLORADO.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,335, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed November 16, 1889. Serial No. 330,591. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LA FAYETTE CREPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sheridan Lake, in the county of Kiowa and State ofA Colorado, have invented a new and useful MaihBag, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements on the mail-bag for which Letters Patent N o. 407,853 were granted to me July 30, 1889, and aims to simplify the construction of the bag and at the same time more completely protect the lock against tampering.

The invention consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and 2 are perspective views of the upper end of the bag, showing it closed and opened, respectively. Fig. 3 is a side view looking at the side opposite that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 4t is an enlarged vertical section on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line y y of Fig. l.

The mailbag A is constructed of the usual materia-1 and is so formed at its upper end as to provide the central tongue B on one side and the short extensions C near its edges. These extensions projecting above the mouth of the bag proper are substantially V-shaped, so that when they are folded over onto the body of the bag, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, their longer edges willcoincide with the upper end of the bag to permit the tongue or flap B to be folded over the mouth of the bag. The tongue is provided with a transverse series of longitudinal slots D, and staples E are inserted through the said slots and secured to the said tongue or flap by means of the plates F, which are formed integral with or secured rigidly to the staples, and are riveted i to the outer side of the tongue or flap. The

label-holder G is secured to the central one of these face-plates.

The lock I-I is secured to the inner side of the body of the bag just below the tongue or flap, and is of the same construction as the lock shown in my aforesaid Letters Patent. The lock is provided with a series of slots cor responding in number to the staples E, and the bag is provided in the side opposite the lock with the slots I, corresponding in num ber to the staples and adapted to register with the slots in the locks. The corners of the bag are provided with the obliquely-arranged slots J, which are adapted to register with the end slots I when the extensions C are folded over onto the bag. The slots in the outer side of these folded corner-pieces are protected by the metallic re-enforcing-plates K, so that the edges of the leather will not be worn away by the staples passing through the said slots. The lock is secured to the inside of the bag by rivets in the usual manner, and the rivets at the ends of the lock are prevented from tearing through the bag by the plates L, through which the same rivets that secure the lock also pass, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. These plates L are arranged on the outer side of the bag, so as to prevent the leather being worn away from over the edges and corners of the lock by the rough usage to which the bag is subjected.` The handle N is secured at its ends to the bag by the lower rivets passed through the lock and the plates L, and is crossed at a point between these ends and secured to the bag at such crossing point by a rivet M, passed through the upper edge of the lock and the bag. One of the plates L is provided with a key-hole O, through which the key is inserted into the lock to open the bag.

Vhen it'is desired to lock the bag, the upper corners of the bag are folded over onto the body of the same, so that the longer edges of the extensions C coincide with the upper edge of the mouth of the bag, and the shorter edges of the said extension will lie on opposite sides of the central slotV I. The slots J are thus brought into alignment with the slots I in the bag and the slots in the lock H, and the tongue or Hap B is then folded over onto the corners of the bag and the staples inserted through the several slots and into the lock. The staples 'will be automatically engaged by the bolts of the lock, as described in my Letters Patent before mentioned, and the bag will thus be securely closed and fastened. In order to unlock the bag, the key is manipulated to disengage the bolts from the staples, and the staples will be automatically thrown 'out of the lock, as will be readily understood.

It will be observed that in my present device the lock is arranged within the bag, so

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as to be entirely hidden from sight and protected from injury, and that the mouth of the bag is so folded as to provide several thicknesses around vthe lock, so that the lock will be effectually inclosed and the bag re-enforced and strengthened at the pointwhere it is fastened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s.-

1. The combination, with the mail-bag, both sides of which are continued above its mouth at their edges into the extensions C, provided with the obliquely-arranged slots J, the bag also having the slots I in one side, and the flap or tongue extending from the opposite side, of the lock secured to the inner side of the bag and the staples carried by the flap or tongue, said extended sides being both folded over the front sides, their oblique slots J registering with the end slots I in the front, and said staples passing therethrough and into the lock in closing the bag, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

2. The bag A, notched at its upper end so as to form the tongue B and the V-shaped extensions C, which are folded over onto the body, the lock H, secured to the inner side of the bag below the tongue, the slots I in the opposite side of the bag, and the slots J in said extensions, and the staples E, secured to the tongue and passing through all the said slots and engaging the lock, substantially as described. v Y

3. In a inail-bag, the plates L, secured to the outside of the bag by the same rivets that attach the lock to the inside of the bag, and the handle N, secured at its ends in the said plates and crossed at an intermediate point and secured at that point to the bag by the rivet M, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LA FAYETTE CREPS.

Witnesses:

R. A. WORK, W. K. DUDLEY. 

